Name of Test BUN
(Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Purpose Indirect measure kidney function Diagnose impaired kidney function Measure urine particle concentration Detects & monitors pancreatitis
Normal Range
High Results Mean Low blood volume/ dehydration, shock, HF, kidney disease, drug toxicity Kidney disease, heart failure, muscle disease Dehydration, pituitary tumor, hypotension, HF, liver failure Pancreatitis Diabetes, stress response, Cushing's, hyperthyroidism, acute/chronic pancreatitis Family high cholesterol/lipid
Low Results Mean Liver failure, cirrhosis, overhydration, nephrotic syndrome Debilitation, decreased muscle mass Distal renal tubular disease, polycystic kidney disease, overhydration, diabetes insipidus
10 20
Male: 0.6 1.2 Female: 0.51.1
Creatinine (Cr) Specific Gravity (Urinalysis) Amylase (AMS)
1.010 1.030 60 120 70 105 < 200 CBC
Male: 4.5 5.3 Female: 4.15.1
Glucose (serum) Cholesterol (serum)
Blood sugar level
Too much insulin production/overdose, hypothyroidism, Addison's, liver disease Malabsorption,malnutrition
Risk for CAD
RBC
Evaluate anemia
Illness, high altitude, congenital heart disease, COPD Infection, leukemic cancer, steroid usage, severe sepsis Congenital heart disease, dehydration, COPD Congenital heart disease, dehydration, COPD Malignant disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia
Anemia, hemorrhage, liver cirrhosis Drug toxicity, bone marrow failure, overwhelming infections, lupus Anemia, cirrhosis, hemorrhage Anemia, cirrhosis, hemorrhage Hemorrhage, infection, cancer therapy
WBC
Evaluates infection or immunosuppression Rapid indirect measurement of RBC count Indirect measurement of red blood cell number and volume Blood ability to clot
5,000 10,000
Male: 13 18 Female: 12 16 Male: 42 52% Female3646% 150,000 400,000
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Hematocrit (Hct) Platelet
Coagulation Studies
PT
(Prothrombin time)
Tests extrinsic clotting Tests coagulation mechanisms More sensitive than PTT Test for coagulation Assess for breakdown of a venous clot (DVT, PE)
11 15 seconds 60 70 seconds 30 45 seconds > 1.5 2.0
*Higher for prosthetic valve
PTT
(Partial thromboplastin time)
Anticoagulation therapy, DIC, hepatic disease, malabsorption Deficiency factors, anticoagulation therapy
Digitalis therapy, diuretic action, vitamin K therapy Extensive cancer, DIC
APTT
(Activated PTT)
INR
(International Normalized Ratio)
D-Dimer
< 0.5
Blood too thin, warfarin (Coumadin) therapy DIC, recent surgery, active or recent bleeding, TE, pregnancy, liver disease, inflammation, malignancy, hypercoagulable states
Blood too thick
Electrolytes
Calcium (Ca) Chloride (Cl)
Parathyroid function & Ca2+ metabolism Acid-base status and hydration status
8.6 10.2 97 107
Hyperparathyroidism, metastatic tumor to bone, Paget's disease Dehydration, hyperventilation, DM
Hypoparathyroidism, renal failure, vitamin D defic. Overhydration, HF, pyloric obstruction, respiratory acidosis Deficient intake, diuretics (thiazide), Cushing's, hyperadlosteronism, steroid therapy, malignant HTN, cirrhosis with ascites, chronic diarrhea/vomiting Decreased dietary intake, Addison's, excessive water intake, vomiting/diarrhea, HF, burns, thoracentesis, ascites, SIADH Profound GI losses (suction, diarrhea), small bowel changes, alcoholics, loop diuretics, antibiotics
Potassium (K)
Fluid/Electrolyte status, heart function
3.5 5.0
Excessive intake, kidney disease/failure, Addison's, DKA
Sodium (Na)
Fluid/Electrolyte status
135 145
Increased intake, Cushing's, excessive sweating, diabetes insipidus
Magnesium (Mg)
Ca/Phosphorus balance
1.3 2.3
Renal failure, elderly, antacid overuse
Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
ALT AST (Aspartate transaminase) ALP (Alkaline phosphatase)
Identify diseases of the liver Evaluate suspected coronary artery occlusive disease or hepatocellular disease Detect & monitor diseases of the liver or bone Diagnose, evaluate, monitor cancer, immune dx, liver dx, nutrition, edema
4 36 0 35
Hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, cirrhosis, hepatic tumor, obstructive jaundice Heart diseases, liver diseases, skeletal muscle diseases, anemia, pancreatitis Primary cirrhosis, liver tumor, Pagets disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, myocardial infarction Acute renal disease, beriberi, pregnancy, diabetic ketoacidosis, chronic renal dialysis Scurvy, pernicious anemia, malnutrition, hypophosphatemia, milkalkali syndrome Malnutrition, liver disease, pregnancy, overhydration
30 120
Albumin
3.5 5
Dehydration
Bilirubin
Evaluates liver function and patients with hemolytic anemias
0.3 1.0
Gallstones, extrahepatic duct obstruction, liver metastasis, cholestasis from drugs, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, anemias, cirrhosis
Ammonia (serum)
Supports diagnosis of liver disease
80 110
Liver disease, Reye's Syndrome
Essential or malignant hypertension
